"Ughhhh."

Groaning out in discomfort, feeling a slight itch all over his body.

Shun, whose mind was starting to come back too and consciousness seemingly starting, he started to open his eyes. Instantly after doing so he was given a gift of bright sunlight going straight into his eyes, almost blinding him as he shifted his arm and tried to pull it over his eyes.

"So bright. . ."

As he moved his arm he instantly felt sluggish and slow as his arm weakly went over his eyes.

He hadn't even realized that he was on the ground as he slowly picked himself up. And it seemed that his body wasn't just sluggish as a slightly painful sore pain came over his body as if it was new. Shun who was now in a sitting position, opened his eyes for the second time now looking down seeing the grass. Green and luscious, it looked completely healthy as he swatted the ants that were crawling up his lower torso that was only covered by some grey cotton shorts, the same with his upper torso being covered in a similarly grey cotton shirt that seemed cut roughly and string popping out.

It was very plain and was slightly uncomfortable.

'I'm not even wearing underwear.’

Finding himself waking up, Shun was becoming more and more aware of his surroundings as his eyes adjusted to the outside light.

'Why am I outside. . . outside. . .!?'

Suddenly coming to realization, Shun jumped up but immediately fell back down tripping over his own feet as he rushed up clumsily.

'I-Im in EDEN!'

With wide eyes picking himself up with new found vigor, Shun immediately felt around and touched everything he could, breathing the air, feeling around his tongue and up against the roof of his mouth, doing everything he could to test his body.

Trying to see if there was anything wrong.

'It really does look and feel like real life. . '

Feeling around the ground there was nothing that didn't feel like real life. The grass was prickly but smooth, the dirt was grainy and soft, the fabric was patchy and coarse, it all felt real. Smelling the air he could instantly smell the familiar nature like stench that was mostly of grass, it wasn't pleasant but it smelt clean and fresh. Feeling around his tongue he could feel the moisture of saliva and taste the morning breath that was in his mouth almost making him gage a little.

'I'm really in Eden.'

Feeling all sorts of emotion come over him, Shun who was still kneeling on the ground as he felt the earth, he shakily stood up as his knees felt weird and awkward. Even his body with all its new hardness and soft places felt real and human.

Standing up and feeling normal again, Shun who was becoming more and more comfortable and stable with the body took a step and then another, jumping up and down, doing weird un practiced punches, he didn't see any kind of indication of lag or unbalanced movements that you would usually seen in games he now fully believed that words of the developers and government.

-Adventures spirit Quest now beginning!-

Terra Atlas. You have chosen to become an Adventurer, to become an Adventurer you must be tough, powerful, and most be able to think on the fly. You are to find the village located ahead of you and protect its people to the best of your ability from the danger approaching. How you do and your outcome in the stability of the village will determine what you earn and what the Gods decide to Gift you depends on your results of this battle.

Good Luck!

Looking at the Quest notification infront of him, Shun wasn't too sure about some aspects of what was essentially the introduction or tutorial to the game, the rewards and gifts were of interest to him but other than that he was confused.

Closing the panel making sure to reread once more as usual, he went ahead and although hesitant walked towards the village that seemed to have a path straight to it after walking outside the rather small forest.

Walking barefoot on the cleared out dirt path.

The village really was just ahead as Shun saw a small and feeble wall of wooden spikes and planks in the form of a wall appear up ahead.

Shun already didn't feel that confident in his Quest as the defenses of the village were terrible.

He still didn;t understand the reason for the quest. Protect the village from what? Why is it in danger? How is he supposed to protect it?

Walking up to the village and looking for some sort of entrance way, he wasn’t sure he could jump over it or not so he just went ahead and walked around to the side that was away from the main path.

Guarding what looked to be an entrance, Shun saw two poorly equipped guards, both wearing patch work leather armor that covered most of their bodies with it looking patched and scratched and not in the greatest of conditions. Wearing a helmet that seemed made of leather as well, both holding metal spears that had nicked heads and looked to be made of shallow metal.

Looking at them, both guards seemed untrained and very lazy with their slumped back and terrible posture.

They didn’t seem the least bit reliable either. If anything they just looked ugly, with skin dirty and terrible, warts all over there face, they were tall at least 6 feet tall and very unathletic. The guy on the left was skinny and had greasy blonde hair while the one on the right was at best pudgy with black hair knotted and messy.

"Halt! What are you ummm, doing here?"

As if asking an unsure question one of the guards seemed awkward as he tried yelling at Shun, asking what he's doing here.

"My name is Terra Atlas. And I’ve come to your village because of a job that was bestowed upon me by powers higher than even the king. A danger is approaching this village and I have come in hopes of protecting your people from it!"

Shun predicted that this Quest was situational, so if that was the case he needed to play along.

"Ummm thats sounds sketchy right?"

As if trying to whisper but failing as Shun heard every word he said. Looking at the guard on his right, Shun saw the guard to his left answer with a shrug of his shoulder.

“I mean. I guess, but he doesn’t look dangerous. . . does he?”

They were now in a conversation/argument on what to do.

And honestly, it started to annoy Shun as he stood there in the itchy clothes and bare feet with the hot sun pouring down onto his skin. Feelings that he’s never had for something started welling up.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your discussion but i’m in a hurry. If I'm to protect your village I need to be equipped and ready for the danger approaching. Seeing as I believe you don’t have the most power and authority in this village, lead me to this village's leader and I will discuss this issue with them."

Speaking the calmest he could despite his annoyance, he didn't know when the supposed danger was coming to the village, but he still needed some sort of protection or weapon to defend the village for whatever reward he’s going to get.

"Oh sure! We can do that. Oh wait we need at least one person to stand guard. . ."

Annoyance.

Annoyance was the only thing Shun could describe the feeling as. He wasn't a talkative person nor was he an outgoing person, but he still needed to have some sort of strength to do the quest and so he pushed past his comfort zone and decided to push himself out there in ways he’s never done before.

And besides, he didn't know what sort of effects this introductory quest had on the actual world of Eden but he wanted to do his absolute best in hopes of catching up with the elites of the previous world.

"How about you take me to the leader of the village while the other stays to guard?"

"Oh that's a great idea!"

And that's how Shun got into the village which looked more like the beginning of a settlement.

With houses and small huts made of broken down shaved logs of wood and barely cut stone, the houses were spread apart and scattered throughout the inside of the wall. It didn’t take long to find people here and there working and doing all sorts of things around, there were hardly any kids around with the youngest seemingly being in their 20’s. Looking around everyone seemed dull and gloomy wearing clothes that seemed to be once upon a time pristine and clean but now looked dirty and torn with patches sewn on and dirt smudged onto the fabric.

It was a sad sight to see but Shun tried to focus on the mission on hand as he approached his destination.

Walking to the biggest house so far, and that was saying something as it wasn't anything too impressive either with the only difference being the size and the better materials being used to make it as Shun and the guard walked over to the house and knocked on the door.

It didn't take long for someone to answer, an old man who didn't look particularly healthy or stable walked out with clothes the cleanest that he's seen so far as they looked almost hand made and clean with his clothes primarily being a green robe that went down to his ankles. Though it was better than the clothes he’s seen so far, much better than even his own, at the same time it was still crude and dirty. But maybe that comes from the 21st century Shun where there’s washing machines and designer clothes.

Shaking thoughts of his old world out of his mind, Shun focused back to the old man with his pure white hair, slicked back, with a patchy beard, and a body almost as thin as a stick as he walked up to the two.

"Hello Dereak, what brings you here. Oh! you're with a friend, who might you be. . ."

Looking at the guard to Shuns right nodding to him and then looking over to Shun.

"My name is Terra Atlas, I am an Adventurer sent here by the gods to protect this village. My abilities are scarce but I need equipment to defend you from the dangerous approaching."

Looking at the leader of the village who at first seemed almost angry at Shuns words at the end seemed almost won over as he looked at Shun with an almost plea, his body shaking.

'I guess my charm came into effect.'

Looking at the Elder who seemed to believe what he said implored him to give him equipment that would give him a better way to complete the quest. Seeing as cloth isn't the best kind of equipment.

"Yes Yes! Come with me! The village armory is just over there, pick whatever you need. But I must tell you, our village is very poor and has just become a settlement after detaching ourselves from a small city that was raided by pillagers not so long ago. So our equipment and weaponry isn't that impressive as you can see on Dereak."

Pointing to the soldier who was now going back to the gate, Shun had to agree with the elder, the equipment did seem rough and worn out.

Heading to the armory that did look that far away, Shun who was paying much closer attention to the village as a whole hadn't realized how bad they had it.

Clothes were dirty, people who were injured were laying down on the ground, there shacks that were supposed to be houses had holes and was made up of weak material, people were dirty, there were barely any kind of field control as the area was filled with wild plants and barely any kind of form of road, everything was just bad.

This village was really poor and by really Shun meant really, really poor.

He understood what the Elder meant when he said they were a new settlement.

Seeing all those sad and defeated looks from the villagers, as if they’ve given up, Shuns determination to protect the village went up a notch.

Approaching a shack bigger than the houses but smaller than the elders and opening the broken and barely usable door as small flies came out, the elder led Shun in.

Going in, Shun could barely see anything as the only form the light came from the slight gaps from the ceiling and walls. And thought it wasm't much, it was enough to see what he was working with.

Inside the room was a box or would it be appropriate to call it a crate? Whatever it was, it was in the middle of the room and was filled with all sorts of weapons and equipment. From swords to bows to knives to even double sided axes. It seemed they were all there, Shun went over and sorted through the box looking for some sort of weapon he could use.

But as he looked through the weapons, it was right there and then that he realized a sole problem that he hadn't thought about until picking up a sword and tried swinging it a bit.

'I don't know how to wield a sword. . .'

Shun, whose mind started to realize the implications of weilding a weapon and using it became apparent as he held the blade in his hand, gripping the leather handle.

Before, he was so confident of his skills but just then did he realize that this isn't a game.

All the skills he needed to have were supposed to be from actual ability and not just clicking.

So his plans of being a sword wielder or being a magician made Zero sense in retrospect.

Looking at the sword, rusted and chipped looking more like a bastard sword with its double edge, probably made of bad metal, he felt disconnected from the weapon.

Not giving up, Shun tried wielding it a bit, doing some odd swings and tiny thrusts trying to find some sort of comfort. But as he did it, he couldn’t help but feel. . . strange the longer he held it.

Sighing out loud, Shun put the sword back into the box and took out another, from out of the pile trying to use it once again. . .

As time went on, using and trying to use the different swords in the box, all different, with varying; length, width, size, and shape, some were familiar while others were completely new to him.

But as he went through each sword, Shun was starting to become estranged by the idea of using a sword.

It was a good idea at first, but as he tried using them it was just a really weird feeling now that he had one in his hands.

It just didn't feel right, he couldn’t explain it, but a sword wasn’t what he wanted.

'Maybe I should try a different weapon.'

Putting down the last sword in the box, Shun didn't even look at the bow or the knives nor did he look at the axes. Though he was intrigued with the sword in the beginning, he hated close range weapons such as knives and he knew for sure that he couldn't use a bow. So in this very small arsenal of weapons he could only look into the back for what he could use.

Looking past and going all the way in the back of the room, past the box the only thing left were a few spears all of different lengths, some big machete-like weapons, a few hammer-like objects, and some weird shields.

But what interested Shun the most were the weapons that seemed different from the rest, there were only 3 of them and it looked alot like a spear, but the pole was a bit thicker and the blade end was longer, wider, and was curved.

Walking past the box and going to the weird spears, Shun tried picking one of them up with his left hand but was instantly met with weight that made it hard to pick up.

"!?"

Putting more effort into it, Shun went and put both hands on the pole and once again poured his strength into lifting it..

This time there was less weight than it was before and it was way easier to pick up then it was before with one hand. Now with the whole spear in his hand he couldn't imagine using it. It had to weigh at least 20-30 pounds.

"What is this?"

Looking in closer detail the weird spear was very different than the normal ones on the other side.

With its pole made of brown wood that seemed cricked and the blade thick and curved made out of metal rusted and chipped it seemed a little odd to call it a spear as it looked a lot different.

"Oh that. Ummm I believe that is called a Glaive? Some of our soldiers found them when leaving the destroyed city. Presumably from the piligares."

"So this is called a Glavie huh. . ."

Standing it up long ways, he compared the Glaive to his height which wasn't that impressive as he was only 5ft 6in and unsurprisingly, it was taller than him but what was surprising was how much taller. It was like 2 or 3 feet taller.

Shun with both hands on the glaive, wrapping his hands around the pole he pushed it up and got into what he thought was an attacking stance basing it off of lance movements he’s seen in shows and manga.

It felt really awkward, with his odd stance in the cramped space, the weight of his body leaning forward and his body feeling top heavy, but other than that it didn't seem that uncomfortable.

"I like it."

Though it was balanced very weirdly dipping forward more than anything and he still didn't know how to use it, but out of all the weapons in the room he liked this one the most.

Do you wish to become a practitioner of the weapon [Glaive]?

Looking at the box in confusion he decided to just choose yes.

With the panel disappearing, not even a second later a weird feeling came over Shun as his body stiffened and his mind automatically moved his hands into a position that was much more comfortable with his feet going into what he apparently knew was a horse stance that he was much more able to do in this cramped space.

Character Sheet

Name: Terra Atlas

Level: 1 (0/50)

Rank: Neutral

Mana: N/A

Ki: 10/10

Devotion: N/A

Curse: N/A

Job: Weapon Practitioner: [Glaive]

Identity: N/A

Titles: N/A

Class: N/A

Occupation: Adventurer

Talent: N/A

Reputation: None

Abilites: Basic ki Swing

Skills: Basic Glaive proficiency- Lv. 1 | Martial Arts mastery- Beginner | Ki mastery- Beginner

With his Character sheet showing up in his face, Shun realized that it was the system that made his body more comfortable with the Glaive in his hands.

"I'll take this. Have you got any armor or better clothes that I can use?"

"Yes! Yes! Right in this bin."

Propping his Glaive up against the wall Shun went through the bin shifting through the weapons and taking out some clothes and armor but almost immediately putting it back seeing as they were absolutely overused and torn to shreds. It took him awhile but Shun was able to find some armor and clothes that properly suited him and wasn't falling apart.

Shun was now wearing some long sleeved wool cloth that functioned as a shirt that seemed to have once been white but turned into a brownish cream color and brown pants that went over his grey clothes that he was now using as an undershirt and underwear.

He even found some old worn leather armor that was probably used by some guards in their old city. It was a little big on him but he laced it up tightly making it so it covered most of his chest.

"This is better. Now what is this danger that I need to protect the village from?”

Looking himself over and smiling, Shun who grabbed his Glaive that was much more easier to hold now. Walked out of the shack with the elder in suit.

Now back into the open, Shun who felt new found energy beginning to rise in his body as he walked around with his Glaive in hand, he couldn't help but feel different.

Before he was shy and was always quiet with his wants and needs, but now with this new sense of pride and power he was starting to be outgoing, almost demanding things out of people, it was as if he was becoming a new person. This feeling was new to him, it was as if the idea of ditching the old Shun was empowering, ditching his old self and becoming Terra Atlas!

Gripping the Glaive in his hands with new vigor, he went his ways to whatever looked to be the center of the village, the elder right by his side.

"People of this village! My name is Terra Atlas! I've come with the information of the gods that a danger that is threatening to destroy your way of life is approaching. I wish to help protect your village but I can't do it alone! I need your help! I need the capable and strong to pick up weapons and fight with me!"

Standing in the center, Shun slammed the butt end of the Glaive into the ground and yelled out, drawing the attention of the entire village to him.

And with that call some out of fright, some out of interest to what Shun was talking about started coming in by the waves.

It was only then did Shun realize what kind of disadvantage he had.

Besides the 2 guards that seemed at the least capable, and looked to be ready to fight. The only other ones who were even at the most close to ready were a few men who were over middle age that were at best farmers and some adults who were weak and scrawny.

Shun couldn't say anything as he was skinny himself but he could at the least be seen as muscular as well. . . well, thanks to the adjustment the character creation, but that's besides the point.

Looking out into the crowd that was slowly forming he could see a total of maybe 15 or 18 people who seemed able to help him.

He was even beginning to look at some of the females of the village but quickly threw that idea away, as they all looked old and frail, not at all capable of using a sword or going into battle.

"You who have never even seen a sword up close! I ask of you not for my sake but for your life, your lover's life, your village's kin lives!"

Still in his speech Shun, who was not entirely convinced on who would be able to fight tried convincing all that were able.

Looking throughout the crowd it seemed that they all seemed more scared than anything

"W-What kind of danger is out there!?"

Shun who was almost surprised looked towards who spoke and felt hope begin to rise as he stared at the well hidden gem of an npc standing almost at the front of the crowd.

Like the rest he was a middle aged man who was greying way too early, but unlike them this man was built very well, with a muscular physique, broad shoulders, and seemed to be way too strong not to be a soldier.

"The threat is something that even I don't know. My mission was given to me by the Gods, so who am I and who are you to deny their wishes. They are giving you the possibility to prosper and thrive in their name becoming a settlement that will become a city and if by their will a kingdom that will stand for thousands of years!"

Going into more theatrics, Shun was starting to find comfortability in being so old age in talk and acting so demanding and forward. It was so amazing!

The man seemed to struggle between being what Shun called sensibile, trusting his faith in the Gods, and the Charm that he presouded to the Npc's

"I know it's hard to believe me, you have no reason to do so. But just know that no matter what, I will stay in your village and fight. You may continue going on with your lives before I arrived, but just know, you may just regret your decision. And like I said, I won't leave you! I promised the Gods and I promised you! You may do what you want but those who wish to protect what you love met me at the gate!"

Slamming the end of his Glaive once more Shun went out of his way to look more respectable and serious as he spun his Glaive around, the blade now pointing to the ground and the pole now pointing up to the sky behind his back and walked towards the gate where those two soldiers were.

To the villagers they saw a child, a child who looked like he could be one of their children, one of the children who were killed by the piligares but was reincarnated and gifted by the Gods with looks that were youthful and charming, strength that can best any man in their village holding a weapon that was easily the weight of a large stone, a presence around him that made him look strong and dominant as he walked away with all eyes drawn to him.

But to Shun he was losing his wits almost reverting back to his past as his confidence took a dive.

He hadn't expected to be so dominat, his initial strategy was to slowly build trust but he panicked. He didn't know when the so-called threat that he needed to protect the village from was coming and he wasn't sure if he had the time to go one by one convincing them either.

Walking up to the gate, Shun wasn't very confident in himself either!

'Why did I promise that! Stupid! Stupid!'

Looking at the Quest notification once more, Shun was again confused by the wording.

'Danger. . .'

What could the danger be, when was it coming, so many questions that felt like was on repeat since obtaining the quest. He tried locating the guards only to see them dozing off as they sat on the two sides of the gate.

". . ."

Walking up to them, Shun looked down at them from infornt as he stood there.

". . ."

Shun didn't know why, but these two guards brought something out of him that he hadn't had for any kind of person.

In retrospect that's a good thing, seeing how they were Npc's, and if it wasn't obvious before, were very much real and they were very much as human as him. Shun wasn't so sure other people were seeing it the same way he did but he wasn't going to treat these Npc's any differently.

He thought of yelling but seeing them, he didn't have the energy. Walking up to Right Guard, who was named Dereak but Shun decided to call him Right Guard, Shun raised his leg back and kicked forward.

"!?"

Instantly, the Right Guard shot open his eyes and was folded over as he covered his leg.

Of course Shun didn't hit hard seeing as he wasn't that changed. . . and the fact that he still needed him, but the Right Guard looked up just to see Shun looking down at him with a blank expression.

The noise the Right Guard made alerted the Left Guard as he opened his eyes and looked over just to see Shun standing over his friend as he held his leg.

". . . You guys should be staying awake when protecting your village."

Looking over to the left Guard, who was instantly up and at attention as he stood straight up with his spear beside him.

He was sweating and looked almost petrified as he stood stone stiff.

"I need you two."

Looking at the two who were now looking at Shun with confusion, Right Guard from the ground, Left Guard from beside the gate. Shun stuck out his hand for the Right Guard who looked at it for a bit before taking it as Shun pulled him up off the ground.

"I told you about the danger right? I need you two to fight with me to defend your village."

Instantly the twos faces went ghastly as they looked at Shun with a look that went past fright.

"W-W-We can't do that! W-We're just stand ins! We were just poor farmers before becoming the guards to the settlement."

"Y-Yeah! We have no idea how to even fight! All we've done is stand here and look menacingly! But we can't defend a village from nothin! Don't make us fight! Please!"

Looking at the two who were even beginning to cry, Shun was re-thinking his ideas on picking these two. But he had no other options.

"So you're telling me you wish to die then?"

Almost as if a shock ran through their bodies, the two Guards looked at Shun whose face was becoming as serious as could possibly be as his mind went crazy.

He wasn't sure what was happening anymore. Shun wasn't sure if it was an act or if it was truly how he felt. He just knew that he was angry. Like, really angry.

"So you wish to just die. Let whoever you love die. Let your friends die. Let those old men and woman who can't fight back die. You will let this settlement that has been striving and trying to survive with the efforts of all those who were working while you two sat here and looked "Intimidating" go to waste?"

Looking down on them even more, Shun who was shorter than them by what seemed to be 5 or 6 inches seemed taller than them at that moment. Towering over them as they were entrapped in his green eyes looking at them with a fire they have never seen in their lives.

"You will let those whose child was lost or parents were lost to die! When they promised themselves to live on and become a person they will be proud of! You wish to separate those whose lives are being lived in someone else no matter the amount to die! Do you think this city is going to be counted on solely me! They may not trust me, but they trust you! Do you want to betray that trust so that you won't die for another persons gain!"

The fire started pouring out as Shun started speaking the way that his heart and mind were taking him.

The two guards couldn't talk.

Their mouths dry and eyes spilling with tears. The memories of time in this settlement after the many years of depression after being the only survivors of their previous village, the tears of joy from their first meal after a good harvest, the time when nobody found use in them in the field and appointed them the guards of the city.

The people of this village trusted them!

They fed them when they barely did anything of use to the village.

What right did they have to say no to give back to the ones who gave them a reason to live. And if they had to sacrifice their lives for a brighter future for those same people who did the same for them, they would do it.

The passion in their eyes reflected in Shuns.

They gripped their spears tighter and gritted their teeth harder as the tears that were falling down their faces with no end in sight stopped and they looked at Shun with passion that honestly surprised even him.

"Do you want that to happen!"

""NO!""

"Are you willing to sacrifice your life to fight alongside me! do you trust me!"

""YES!""

"Are you sure?"

Getting quieter, Shun looked at the two with an expression that once again tried to shake there will.

Key word, tried.

"Yes, although I've only met you a few hours ago. My. . . My soul has connected with yours. My life has been saved, although I might die I survived the mental sea that would've caused me and my friends death if not for the people of our village."

The Right Guard who seemed to have a complete 180 degree difference in energy and personality as he spoke to Shun with conviction and stone cold resolve as the Left Guard nodded.

". . .Ok then, I wish I could've done this alone but I need you two. I really need all capable if being honest, but I'm not going to force you into the village who are not capable into battle. So with just us three, we will have to protect the village."

Telling the two of their situation, they appeared to have accepted it rather quickly as they looked at Shun with a look that almost made him shudder.

Although he was passionate about the Quest and was primarily focused on the rewards, he felt a different kind of drive to make sure this village was safe.

At first it started with the houses, then the people and the way they interacted with each other, their story, the food and crops that he saw on his way to the armory, and now it's these two and their passion to protect the village.

He really felt the human connection of the village as he watched them

'Maybe. . . Maybe it will be fine.'

(Quest Notification!)

Spirit of the Adventurer- A poverish village on the start of rebuilding from the horrific battles of pillagers and raiders, effectively losing their home has fled to a new location in hopes of creating a new life. Unfortunately, this village is in the claimed area of a group of bandits that have recently started taking territory, being discovered, this group of bandits are on their way to wipe the village off their claimed area destroying and looting all that they can.

Bandits arriving at: 0:80. . .

". . .Oh"